International students driving economic growth
What do the following have in common: Materials that remove ‘forever’ chemicals from wastewater, organic period products, and an energy saving app that helps cut household bills? They are all innovative products developed by UK businesses founded by Russell Group university graduates who came here as international students.
Companies created by international graduates like these are boosting the government's growth mission by supporting jobs around the UK.
- Puraffinity was formed by two Imperial international students, Henrik Hagemann from Denmark and Gabi Santosa from Indonesia. Their business is a green technology firm that has developed materials which remove harmful ‘forever’ chemicals from wastewater. The company was founded and scaled at Imperial’s White City Innovation District and is now developing an outsourced manufacturing facility in Middlesbrough.
- Dr Johnson Fernandes, from India, used the knowledge and expertise he gained studying for his PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Newcastle University to develop Equiwatt, an innovative, energy-saving app that helps households and communities to reduce electricity use at peak times. The company now employs 10 people at its headquarters in Gateshead.
- Tara Chandra is a US graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science who co-founded Here We Flo, a business dedicated to providing organic, sustainable personal care products, after completing her MSc. Here We Flo’s products can be found on the shelves of major retailers like Boots and Whole Foods.
The wider economic benefits that come with international students – the money they spend on goods and services, the investment they support in R&D in growth sectors, and more – are also really important for businesses around the country. We need an immigration system that helps keep the next generation of international talent in the UK to support the growth mission.
Reports suggest the government is again considering changing rules around student migration as part of the Immigration White Paper. It’s important the public has confidence in our immigration system and universities fully support moves to crack down on fraud and other abuses.
However, as we work to improve safeguards it is critical ensure elements of the current system such as the Graduate Route which bring huge growth benefits for communities around the UK are protected.
The Graduate Route allows international students who complete their university course to work in the UK for a limited period which does not count towards the residency period required for indefinite leave to remain.
It is consistent with visa offers in major competitors such as Australia and Canada and supports education exports which grow the economy by nearly £22bn every year. A review by the Migration Advisory Committee last year found no evidence this visa route was being abused.
Find out more about the benefits the Graduate Route has for the UK – and how international students help contribute to the government’s growth mission – in our latest briefing.